ARTICLE
Due to increasing transmission rates of COVID-19 in the community, ChristianaCare is returning to limited visitation at its facilities and will also require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test not older than 72 hours for all visitors. The following patient visitation guidelines will go into effect Monday, August 23: • Inpatients in our Christiana, Wilmington and Union hospitals may have one visitor daily between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. The visitor must be the same person for the entire day. Visitors must be age 16 or older. • Patients having outpatient surgery may have one support person accompany them. Support persons must be age 16 or older. • Visitors for inpatients and support people accompanying patients for surgery must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 OR have a negative COVID-19 test within the prior 72 hours. Fully vaccinated is defined as having completed their first and second dose of Pfizer or Moderna, or their single dose of Johnson & Johnson. • All visitors and surgical support people must show proof of vaccination OR a negative COVID-19 test. Digital and paper copies of a negative COVID-19 test will be accepted. • All support persons/visitors are screened for COVID-19 symptoms and are not permitted entry if they do not pass the screening. • Individuals coming to the emergency department may have one support person accompany them; that person must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals admitted to the hospital from the emergency department may be permitted one visitor daily, but that visitor must be vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within the prior 72 hours. • Patients in Labor & Delivery may have two support people accompany them, one of whom may be a doula. Both support people must be screened for COVID-19 symptoms. Once admitted after delivery, patients may have one support person who must be vaccinated or show proof of a negative COVID-19 test in the prior 72 hours. • Patients in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) may have two visitors, one of whom is a parent or guardian. Visitors should allow extra time for the screening process. Visitors must remain masked at all times in our facilities, even if they are vaccinated or have a negative COVID-19 test. “Throughout the pandemic, we have been guided by data and science to ensure that we are taking the most appropriate steps to ensure safe care and a safe environment for our patients, visitors and caregivers,” said Sharon Kurfuerst, Ed.D., OTR/L, FACHE, ChristianaCare chief operating officer. “The increased spread of COVID-19, driven especially by the delta variant and spread among people who are still unvaccinated, is creating significant challenges. It is vitally important that everyone in the community get vaccinated as quickly as possible.” Visit coronavirus.delaware.gov or cecilcountyhealth.org for vaccination and testing locations in Delaware and Maryland.